And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.’
Gen 3:15
The first morning glimmer
of light
tells us the sun is coming:
A new day
A new hope
And eternal possibilities.
The dawn light
is a daily
covenant promise
that the son is coming:
who with a bruised heel
would crush
the enemy’s head
forever.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. Micah 5:2, 4 “
Promises, promises.
Human vows –
some come true
and others fade to empty words.
Promises, promises.
God’s divine pledges
are fulfilled
beyond measure:
From the small and weak
the Saviour will come.
The Satan crusher
and death slayer
will arrive as an infant.
And the healer and miracle worker
as a man from David’s family.
Promises, Promises.
The king came to a country inn.
The victory was won
on a crude wooden cross.
Promises, promises –
fulfilled.
… but the king’s return
is still to come.
There are still promises to see.
The palace:
the backyard of
a small town inn.
The throne:
a manger
The courtly attendants:
Shepherds.
The king is born!
Long live the King!
David’s throne
has reached its destiny.
In infant frailty,
the power of God.
Last Year’s Poems
Surrounded by brokenness,
holy perfection.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”
The door of the law,
is solid, large,
immovable and closed.
We lie lifeless
Last Year’s Poems
Holy, immovable,
divine expectations
bar entry
into God’s perfect presence.
Then,
in Bethlehem
a Key was born:
the door opener –
the barrier destroyer.
The manger child
came
to throw open wide
and prepare entry
for his adopted
brothers and sisters.
And the father
will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.
The next O.T. Advent poem comes straight from Scripture. As a piece of poetry it is untouchable. As gospel, it is beyond price.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7: 13 & 14
To be slow to believe
and hard to hear
is not a new thing.
Human hearts
are not soft to
God’s miracles
and promises.
In turmoil
God pointed to hope
a King
defeater of enemies.
When all is dark
and the gloom descends
remember
a child was born,
promises fulfilled,
a King delivered.
The oil trickled
down his hair
and handsome young neck.
Before David’s kin
the Spirit plunged into his being.
A new king was made.
Another time:
A chilled night,
No oil,
but the Spirit hovered
lovingly, mightily:
The Everlasting King
was born.
Joshua:
YHWH rescues
A faithful, young
obedient leader
took God’s children
by the hand
into the land of promise
to receive their
God given
inheritance.
Jesus:
YHWH rescues
Is God
whose hands were nailed
to a tree
so that we
could receive
our God bought
inheritance.
Moses
plucked from slaves and rushes
and made a royal prince.
Became a prophet,
priest and leader “king”;
called to
set God’s people free.
A Saviour
who only saw
the Promised Land
from afar.
His rod would rule and save
to a point.
Moses, an imperfect shadow,
Of The Word
The Priest
And
The holy King
who would
set his people free
forever
in a Promised Land
to which he has risen,
to prepare.
From father to son,
and father to son,
the king rules.
Long live the King!
With Sceptre,
the staff of authority
the honour continues
from regal generation
to regal generation.
The kingdom rises
and falls.
God’s promise
persists.
But we wait,
and wait
for the ultimate king.
The king!
The Lion will rule with
the wand of real power
over all nations
for eternity.
Travels from Ur 